Well plug



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ros; Bass/'afer R. BASSRNGER WELL PLUG Filed Aug.` 26,1959' Teb. 4, 1941,

Feb. 4, 1941.y R, BASSMGER 2,230,447

WELL PLUG Filed Aug. 26, 1959' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 4, 1941. RBAsslNGE-R 2,230,447

wrmA PLUG Filed Aug. 2e, 1959 s shuts-sheet 3 Patented Feb. 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENTy OFFICE WELL PLUG Ross Bassinger, Houston, Tex.Application August 26, 1939, Serial No. 292,029 13 Claims. l(Cl. 166-13)This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a well plug.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved plugl wherein asingle operation compresses the packing and sets the slips, and also theuse of shear pins to hold the plug from setting are eliminated.

A particular object of this invention is to proy vide an improved devicefor retaining cement which is preferably retractable after the cementhas set, and which constitutes a plug easily set, and through whichcement or other material may be pumped; the device being capable ofrepeated uses.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described having improved means for anchoring andi` packing itoff, at the desired location in thewell, together with latching meansarranged to be'operated by an overshot, whereby the anchoring andpacking means are released so the device may be removed from the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plug having a shoe anda mandrel co-acting with other elements together with anchoring andpacking means, whereby rotation of the mandrel raises the shoe, distortsthe packing to seal olf the casing, and anchors the device in place.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improveddevice, wherein accidental packing oi of said device, while beinglowered into the well, is eliminated.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, before it is anchored inthe well.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same device in its set or anchoredposition.

Figure 3 is a similar view of the same device in its retractableposition.

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view.

Figure 8 is a similar view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of another form ofthe invention.

Figure 10 is a horizontal. cross-sectional view 5 taken on the linelli-I0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of another form ofthe invention.

Figure l2 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line l2-I2of Figure 11. l0

Figure 13 is a similar view taken on the line I3-I3 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a similar view taken on the line III-I4 of Figure 11.

Figure 15 is asimilar view taken on the line 15 I5-I5 of Figure 11.

In the drawings the numeral Ill designates a -well tubing or casingwhich has been previously set in the well bore. A plug A is constructedso as to be lowered into the casing to the desired 20 location andanchored. This device includes a central or axial tubular mandrel I I,having an internally screw-threaded (preferably left-handed) box I2 atits upper end, which is provided with a smooth bore I3 below itsinternal screw-threads, 25 communicating with the bore of the mandrel. Abull-nose shoe I5 is carried by the lower end of the manlrel andincludes an upstanding central nipple I6, which is internallyscrew-threaded to receive the externally screw-'threaded lower end 30 I4of the mandrel. The shoe has an annular well Il surrounding the nipple,and the nipple is provided with vertical keyways I8 in its outersurface.

The shoe is formed with an axial valve chamber 35 I9, which ispreferably cylindrical. A valve seat spider`2I (Figures 1 and 7) is heldat the upper end of the chamber and receives a valve ball 20, which isheld up against the seat of said spider by a helical coiled spring 22.The spring is sup- 40 ported and confined in the chamber by an annularnut 23 screwed into Ythe bottom of the shoe and having a comparativelylarge central opening 24.

An elongated sleeve 25 surrounds the mandrel 4.54

Vdrical elastic packing 29, conned in the counter- 5f;

bore 25', snugly embraces the mandrel and packs off the same at thispoint. The packing is confined by a follower nut 30, screwed into thelower end of the counterbore. The sleeve has an internallyscrew-threaded box 28 at its upper end, shaped to receive a taperedscrew-threaded pin 3|', depending from the lower end of a tubular core3|, surrounding the mandrel II. The mandrel is rotatably disposed in thesleeve 25 and core 3|, and when saidmandrel is rotated, the parts I5,25, and 3| are held against rotation, as will be hereinafter described.Upon rotation of the mandrel, its screw-threaded lower end I4 is moveddownwardly into the nipple i6, from the position shown in Figure 1 tothe position shown in Figures 2 and A3, whereby the ball valve 20 isdislodged from its seat. The upper end of the core 3| is externallyreduced to form an elongate collar 32. Ball bearings 33 are confinedbetween the upper end of the collar and the bottom of the box I2, so asto take the longitudinal thrust of the elements.

Below the lower end of the collar 32, the core is provided withoutwardly directed lugs 34 (Figure 1), each having an undercut bottom35. The box I2 and the collar 32 have substantially the same 'outerdiameter, and are slidably received within a latching and setting head36, which has an annular shoulder 36a that rests upon an annularshoulder 38, provided on the core 3|. Shoulder 38 is flush with the: topfaces of the lugs 34. Head 36 is counter-bored below the shoulder 36a tot around the core. The head also has vertical slots 43' into which thelugs 34 extend and vertical inner grooves 46 in the lower shank portion36' of the head 36, said grooves extending from the lower ends of slots43' downwardly to the lower end of the head.` This head has an upwardlyextending neck 31, the major external portion of -which isscrew-threaded. Pivotally mounted within the slots 43' on pins 42, whichextend transversely of slots 43', are a plurality of latches 43 whichengage beneath the lugs 34 on the core 3| below the collar 32 and holdthe lugs in this position until said latches are swung outwardly, aswill be hereinafter explained. The head 36 is provided with externalequally-spacedvertical recesses 4|), flared outwardly to the outersurface of said head (Figures 1 and 4). Upright dogs' 4I are confined insaid recesses so as to swing transversely with sufiicient eccentricityrthat its outer upright serrated edges 4|' will engage the inner wall ofthe casing I0. The dogs are urged into this engagement by coiled springs42'. By this engagement of said dogs with the inner surface of thecasing, the entire device will A .be held against rotation, so that themandrel may be rotated Without rotating the rest of the structure.

A setting collar 41, having its lower portion 48 reduced and tapered,overhangs the box 28 and abuts a shoulder 49 on the sleeve 25. Thiscollar is screwed on to the shank 36'. A split-ring type slip 50surrounds the lower end of the tapered portion 48. A plurality ofelastic packing rings 5| are confined on the sleeve 25 between a packingretainer ring 52, underlying 4the slip 50 and the top of the shoe I5.When the mandrel II is rotated, and the shoe I5 is moved up due to itsthreaded engagement with the mandrel, the top of said shoe will move thepacking rings upwardly. The slip 50 will be moved upwardly on the taper48 and thereby be expanded, which will cause the teeth of said slip tobite into the inner surface of the casing I0 and thereby anchor saiddevice. The packing rings 5| will undergo farther distortion, as theyare confined between the said slips and the upwardly moving shoe, whichwill result in packing off said device.

For lowering the device into the well, the lower screw-threaded end of asection of tubing 53 is screwed into the box I2 and fastened by a shear-pin 54, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The device and the lowertubing section being locked together, the device may be run into thewell by making up the tubing string in the usual manner. When the deviceis lowered to the proper location, the shoe I5 being above the sandwhich is to be sealed, it is ready to operate. It will be noted that thedogs 4I will be in engagement with the inner surface of the walls of thepipe I0, and as said dogs are elongated, they will pass and bridge overa joint which may have a gap therein, thus, preventing the device frombeing caught or hung therein. The operation is as follows:

When the device has been lowered to the predetermined level, the pipe 53is rotated in clockwise direction, and the dogs 4|, already in slightengagement with the inner surface of the casing I0, will be forced intofurther engagement, due

to the right-handed rotation. Thus, the head 36, together with the core3| and sleeve 25, will be held against further rotation due to the keys21, located in the lower end 26 of the sleeve 25 and in the nipple I8 ofthe shoe I5; also, said shoe will be held against rotation. However, themandrel II will be rotated, and as the tubing 53 and mandrel II arerotated to the right, the shoe I5, through the medium of thescrew-threaded connection I4 with the nipple I6 of the shoe I5, willmove the shoe upwardly, thereby sliding the packing 5I upwardly, whichin turn will move the slip ring 50 up the tapered surface 48 of thecollar 41 whereby said slip ring will be expanded and engage the innersurface of the casing I0 (Figure 2). As the rotation of the mandrel IIis continued, the packing'rings 5| will be distorted, thereby sealingand packing oi between the device and i'. .ner wall of the casing.

The slip rings 50, due to their positive engagement, will anchor thedevice in place. 'I'he lower I end of the mandrel II will pass' throughthe spider 2|, engaging the valve ball 20 and pushing it downwardlyagainst the tension of the spring 22. The lower end of the mandrel |I ismilled so as to form a valve seat for the ball. Thus, it can be seenthat as the device is lowered into the well, fluid within the well mayflow upwardly through the device; however, after the device has beenset, iluid may be pumped downwardly through the mandrel II, unseatingthe ball 20 and flowing out through the opening 24 into the sands orformation.

The operation of forcing a fluid such as cement into the. sands throughthe device may now be started. After a suflicient amount of cement hasbeen forced into the well, the operator is now desirous of removing thetubing. This is accomplished by further rotation of said tubing in aclockwise direction, 'thus breaking the shear pin 54 and allowing thetubing to be unscrewed and pulled out of the well. The device is left asit was originally set until the cement has had sufllcient time toharden, and the operator is then desirous of-retrieving said retainer.

This is accomplished by attaching an ordinary overshot B to a string oftubing, said overshot having its lower end B internally tapered: Theovershot is provided with the usual internal is provided withsubstantially the same type dogs screW-threads-B". The overshot may bescrewed on the head 36 by the screw-threads B" and 31 and by rotation ofthe tubing as the overshot is screwed on tothe head the tapered portionB will strike the upper ends of the latches 43. As the overshot isscrewed down tightly, the lower ends of the latches will move away fromthe body, thereby being disengaged from under the lugs 34 of the core3|. When said latches become disengaged, it can be seen that the head 36and the collar 41 are no longer retained in a locked relation and arefree to slide upwardly. The elastic packing rings 5|, having beendistorted in packing off said device, are now free to act on theunlocked mer'nbers and will act to move the collar 41 upwardly, allowingsaid rings to resume their original undistorted position. The slip ringwill also be attempting to resume its unexpanded position, which willact to force the collar 41 farther upwardly and allow said slip ring toresume itsv normal position. The grooves 4B allow the collar 41 to passoverthe lugs 34 until said lugs strike the lower end of the grooves.moving up to that position shown in Figure 3, and allowing the device toresume its relatively original positions so that the same may be removedfrom the well.

In Figure 9, there is illustrated another form or modification of thepacking assembly, embodying the same principle as in the rst form. In

this particular form, the device cannot be retrieved. It is used forentirely plugging a well. The numeral 60 designates a mandrel, similarto the mandrel in Figure 1. The lower construction of this device. issubstantially the same as that shown in Figures l, 2, and 3, andoperates in the same manner, however the upper construction isslightlydiierent. In place of the head 36, this form has a head 6| whichextends downwardly from the top of the device and is reduced to providea taper or collar 62. Below the taper 62 the head is formed with a shank62', from which depends an annular apron 63 similar in structure andoperation to the apron 26.

The screw-threaded pin 80, of a tubing 8|, is screwed into thescrew-threaded socket 82 of a box 64 on the upper end of the mandrel andis fastened by a shear pin 65. In this form it is often-times desirousto pump a uid through the plug after the same has been set in the wellbore. When the device is set in the well bore, the lower end 66 of themandrel will engage the valve ball 20 and will prevent any upper flowthrough said device. For closing the upper end of the mandrel 60, thereis provided in the box 64. valve chamber 68 having a valve seat 10 atits lower end. Extending'into the chamber 68, are a plurality offrangible pins 1|, whichv are arranged to support a valve ball 12. Thechamber 68 is enlarged at the point of suspension of said ball, thusallowing fluid to pass around the ball and down through the mandrel 60.After the device has been set, it can be seen that fluid may be pumpedthrough said mandrel and below the device.

Alter any iluid, which may be desired, has been pumped through thedevice, it is then desirable to close the upper end of the mandrel 60.To accomplish this, it is only necessary to drop into the tubing asuitable tool, or weight, which will strike the ball 12 and bend orbreak the pins 1|, and thus force said-ball down upon the valve seat 10,located in the lowerend of the chamber 68. It is pointed out that theplug Thus, the collar 41 is capable of 4| as are shown in Figures 1, 2,and 3 (Figure 10) In operation, the plug is lowered to a predetermineddepth, and the running means rotated to the right, thus engaging thedogs 4| rmly on the inner surface of the casing Il). By continuedrotation, the shoe I5, at the lower end of the device, will travelupwardly, distorting the packing rings 5| and engaging the slip ring 50,the same as was done in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Thus, thedevice is set, andthe lower end 66 oi' the mandrel 60' will engage the valve ball 20.

Novuid can ow upwardly through the device, but the operator may pump anydesired fluid downwardly through said device. Often-times in plugging awell, the operator will want to cement beneath the plug, and this may bedone while the ball 12 issuspended within the chamber 68. Aftervtheoperator has pumped the iluid through the device, he inserts Within thecasing a tool,-or weight, which shears the pins 1|, whereby the ball 12will be seated on the valve seat 10. Thus, he has completely plugged thebottom of the well. He then rotates his running means, shears the pin65, thus allowing him to disengage his running means from. the plug.With this type of plug, it can be seen that the plug cannot be set untilthe operator intentionally sets the same, as there is no way of thedevice setting until it is rotated by the tubing to the right.

In'Figure 11, there is illustrated another form or modification of thepacking assembly, embodying the same principles as that shown in the- 85designates a mandrel similar to the mandrel in Figure 1. The lowerconstruction of the mandrel and the shoe 86 is substantially the same asthat shown in Figures 1, 2, 3,` and 9, except a plurality of dogs 81,substantially the same as the dogs 4| of Figures 1, 2, 3, and 9, aremounted within said shoe. y

A sleeve 88 surrounds the intermediate portion of the mandrel and isformed at its lower end with a downwardly tapered collar 39. An upwardlytapered collar 9|! is fastened around the upper end of said sleeve. Aplurality of slips 92 surround the lower portion of the collar 89 andrest upon the upper portion of the shoe 86. Each slip is looselyconnected to the shoe by a ball pin 93, having its head confined in aradial groove 93', key shape in cross-section, whereby the slip may moveradially of the shoe. As can be seen, the construction of the rest ofthe device is substantially the same as that shown in the rst two forms.Thus, as the shoe 86 is moved upwardly by the screw-threaded engagementwith the mandrel 85, the slips 92 will be carried upwardly on thetapered surface of the collar 89, and due to radial connections will beallowed to move outwardly and grip the side wall of the casing. At thesame time the packing, together with the collar` 90, -are movedupwardly, whereby the slip ring 9| will be expanded and bite into thecasing.

Thus, it can be seen that with this type of plug, it is anchored by twosets of slips and will be positively prevented from undergoing anymovement after it has been anchored. By connecting the slips 92 to thetop of the shoe by the ball pins 93; it can be seen that 'said slips arefree t0 undergo any such movement that they would ordinarily undergo butwill prevent them from becoming accidentally set while running said toolin the well and will not become set until the operator is desirous ofsetting them.

The box 94 and the ball $5 are constructed identically as the box 64 andball l2 shown in Figure 9, so that the operation of this; form will besubstantially the same as that shown in Figure 9; except as the shoe I6moves upwardly, it will set two sets of slips, instead of the split ringslip as shown in Figure 9.

Various changes, alterations and-modifications may be made in the size,shape and arrangement of the herein described elements, within the scopeoi' the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patents is:

1. A cementing device including, a packer. means for distorting thepacker to seal oi! a well casing' including a tubular conductor, meansfor anchoring the packer in said well casing, said tubular conductorextending through the packer and open when the packer is -in unexpandedposition, whereby the cementing device may be lowered into the well, aninitially open valve arranged to close the conductor against upstream owwhen the packer is expanded, whereupon the valve is downwardly openableand an opening in the shoe below the valve to permit cement to flow downthrough said conductor and discharge below the cementing device, andmeans operable from the top of the well for releasing the cementingdevice, whereby it may be 'removed from the well after the cementing iscompleted.

2. A device of the character described including, an axial rotatablemandrel, a shoe provided with an initially open flow passage and havingmeans for holding the shoe against rotation when the mandrel is rotated,co-acting means between the mandrel and the shoe operable for elevatingsaid shoe relatively of the mandrel when said mandrel is rotated,elastic packing means surrounding the mandrel, and anchoring meansexpanded to anchoring position when the shoe is elevated and thenco-acting with the shoe to distort the elastic packing.l

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of an axialtubular mandrel, a shoe connected with the lower end of the mandrel soas to be elevated when said mandrel is rotated, a setting member, meansfor holding the setting member. against rotation in the well casing, anexpansible anchor connected with the setting member, packing meansconnected with the shoe so as to elevate and cause the expansion oi thevanchor to set the device in the casing and to distort said packing whensaid shoe is elevated; and a valve below the mandrel and initially open,said valve being positioned to be engaged by said mandrel to shut oil?upward ilow through said mandrel.

4. A well packing device including. an elongate core member extendinglongitudinally of the device, a mandrel rotatably mounted within saidmember, a shoe at the lower end oi the device. means interconnectingsaid shoe and core member in non-rotatable slidable relationship, aconnection between the lower end of the mandrel and shoe for moving theshoe longitudinally oi' the device when the mandrel is rotated,casingengaging dogs for holding the device against rotation, a settingvmember disposed around the core member, an expansible anchor mounted onthe sell-ing member for expansion and having connection whereby it ismoved to anchoring position when the shoe is elevated, and externalpacking disposed around the core member and mounted to be distorted,said packing being distorted when the shoe is moved longitudinally ofthe mandrel.

5. A well packing device including, a longitudinal` support, a shoemember mounted on the support, a setting member, an expansible anchormounted on the setting member, a packing carried by the support, aconnection between the support and one of the said members for movingsaid shoe -member longitudinally on the support to expand the anchor andset the packing, and casing engaging dogs carried by said setting memberand having means for positively gripping the well casing to hold saidsetting member against rotation when the support is rotated, the shoemember, setting member and anchor being interconnected so as to be heldagainst rotation when said element is so held.

6. A well packing device including, a longitudinal support, a shoemember mounted on the support, a setting member, an expansible anchormounted on the setting member, a packing carried by the support, aconnection between the support and one of the said members for movingsaid shoe member longitudinally on the support to expand the anchor andset the packing, and casing engaging dogs carried by said setting memberand having projections for gripping a well casing and holding the deviceagainst rotation when the support is rotated, the shoe member, settingmember and anchor being interconnected so as to be held against rotationwhen said setting member is so held.

1. The combination in a well packing device. of a rotatable tubularsupport, an actuating member at the lower endof the support, a packingabove said member, an anchor above said member, means for setting theanchor, a connection between the actuating member and the support i'orelevating the said member on the support to set the anchor and thepacking when the support is rotated, and means on the device oil'setlongitudinally from the packer actuable for gripping a well casing andholding the device against rotation when the support is rotated.

8. The combinationin a well packing device, o! a rotatable tubularsupport, an actuating member at the lower end of the support, a packingabove said member, an anchor above said member, means for setting theanchor, a connection between the actuating member and the support forelevating the said member on the support to set the anchor and thepacking when the support is rotated, and means having teeth for grippinga well casing and holding the device against rotation when the supportis rotated.

9. A plug for a well casing, including a rotatable tubular support, ashoe, means to connect the shoe to the lower end of the support so as toelevate the shoe upon rotation of the support, setting means, means forholding the setting means against rotation, anchoring means connected tothe setting means, packing means operable by the shoe to actuate theanchoring means to set the plugin the well casing and to causedistortionof the packing means when the shoe is elevated, and an vinitially openvalve at the lower end of the support engageable by the latter toshut-oi! upward iiow through the support upon predetermined elevation ofthe shoe.

l0. A well plug in accordance with claim 9, wherein there is a normallyopen second valve for closing the bore of the upper end of the support,and wherein there is means for supporting the second valve in openposition, the supporting means being distortable whereby upon subjectingthe second valve to pressure, the supporting means will be distorted soas to enable the second valve to move to a position closing the up'- perend of the bore of the support.

1l. A plug for a Well casing, including a body, a packer carried by thebody and movable to seal a well casing, means carried by the body toanchor same in the well casing, a tubular conductor in the body openwhen said packer is in unexpanded position, an initially open valve forclosing the conductor against the ingress of fluid thereinto, and meansoperable from the top of the well to actuate said conductor to close thevalve when the packer is being simultaneously moved into sealingposition.

12. A plug for a well casing, including a rotatable tubular support, ashoe, means to connect the shoe to the lower end of the support so as toelevate the shoe upon rotation of the support, anchoring means, packingmeans operable by the shoe to actuate the anchoring means to set theplug in the well casing and to cause distortion of the packing meanswhen the shoe is elevated,

- and an initially open valve at the lower end of the support engageableby the latter to shut off upward flow through the support uponpredetermined elevation of the shoe.

' 13. A plug for a well casing including, a body,- a packer carried bythe body and movable to seal a Well casing, means carried by the body toanchor the same' in a well casing, a tubular conductor in the body openwhen said packer is in an unexpanded position, a valve having an openseat, whereby uid may enter the body and flow upwardly through theconductor when said valve is seated on said open seat, means operablefrom the top of the well to move said conductor into engagement withsaid valve and unseat said valve, whereby said valve closes saidconductor against the ingress of fluid thereinto, and means coactingwith the conductor for moving the packer into its sealing position.

ROSS BASSINGER.

